justice
Investigator: Putin had active role in MH17 downing
People walk through the debris at the crash site of MH17 passenger plane near the village of Grabovo in eastern Ukraine in July 2014. photo
© Dmitry Lovetsky/AP/dpa
Who was responsible for the downing of the MH17 passenger plane over eastern Ukraine, killing 298 almost nine years ago? Investigators point in the direction of the Kremlin. But will there be a process?
According to international investigators, Russian President Vladimir Putin played an active role in the shooting down of the MH17 passenger plane over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. The team of investigators in The Hague announced that this was evident from wiretapped telephone calls.
There are “strong indications” that Putin decided to provide the pro-Russian separatists with the anti-aircraft missile that later shot down the plane. However, the investigators have no direct proof that Putin also approved the shooting down – not even against other suspects.
Investigators said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. In addition, Putin enjoys immunity through his office and cannot be prosecuted. The criminal investigations have therefore been suspended for the time being. “We have reached our limits,” said prosecutor Digna van Boetzelaer.
All 298 passengers died
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down by a Russian BUK anti-aircraft missile over a contested area in July 2014. All 298 people on board died. Russia has always denied any involvement in the Boeing downing. Because most of the victims came from the Netherlands, the investigation takes place in the country.
In The Hague, the investigators played the wiretapped telephone calls at their press conference. It was heard not only how senior advisers to the Kremlin, but also how the Russian President himself spoke to leaders of the pro-Russian separatists. In doing so, the investigators wanted to show a chain of command that they believed to be headed by Putin.
Kremlin Advisor: Heavy Weapons? Must decide “number one”.
The investigation also revealed that leading representatives of the Donbass separatists had repeatedly asked the Kremlin for the delivery of heavy weapons before the plane was shot down. In conversations with the separatist leaders, Kremlin advisers made it clear that this had to be decided by “number one”. A conversation with Putin himself was also played in The Hague, revealing that he was personally involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the investigators’ conclusion “bitter” – especially for the relatives of the 298 victims of the disaster. “But I want to be very clear: we won’t give up,” said the prime minister in The Hague.
Investigator: “The answers lie in Russia”
The families of the victims also expressed disappointment. Piet Ploeg, chairman of the bereaved association, said: “Many of us expected more.” He hopes that the results of the investigation could be used in ongoing civil proceedings.
The investigations had faltered because Russia had refused to cooperate, said the head of the Dutch criminal police, Andy Kraag. “The answers lie in Russia.”
The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014 when it was shot down over a contested area by a Russian BUK anti-aircraft missile. Charges were brought against three Russians and one Ukrainian – all of whom held leading positions with the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine at the time. Last year, three of them were found guilty in a trial and sentenced to life imprisonment. A man was acquitted. None of the defendants attended the trial.